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  • Source: 466th Fighter Squadron

    • The 466th Fighter Squadron is the 419th Fighter Wing's operational flying squadron. It is located at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
    The squadron was activated late in World War II. Intended as a long-range escort unit, it deployed to the Pacific, but remained in Hawaii until it was inactivated after VJ Day. The squadron was reactivated in 1952 as the 466th Fighter-Escort Squadron, but was inactivated in 1956, when the concept of fighters escorting formations of bombers no longer jibed with United States military thinking.


    Overview


    The 419th formerly flew 15 F-16C/D model aircraft, which are light, air-to-air daytime fighters. In September of 2015 the 466th received its first F35A, which is a multi-role, combat capable fighter. The 466th Fighter Squadron first saw action in 1998, participating in Exercise Cope Tiger. This is a drill which puts reserve pilots shoulder to shoulder with members of the Thailand and Singapore Air Forces. Later that year, the 466th was deployed to Kuwait in time for Operation Southern Watch. The 466th was part of a unit attempting to hold off Iraqi movements toward Kuwaiti and Saudi Arabia.


    History




    = World War II

    =
    Formed in late 1944 under Second Air Force as one of the last Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter squadrons, programmed for deployment to Western Pacific theater with long-range P-47N for Boeing B-29 Superfortress escort missions. Arrived in Hawaii in early 1945, assigned to Seventh Air Force. Lack of a serious fighter defense over Japan at high altitudes and reprogramming of B-29 raids over Japan to night low-level fast attacks led to reassignment as an air defense and training unit in Hawaii.


    = Early Cold War fighter escort

    =
    Reactivated as the 466th Fighter-Escort Squadron to accompany formations of Strategic Air Command Boeing B-50 Superfortress and Convair B-36 Peacemaker bombers. Twice deployed to Japan to augment air defense forces there. Inactivated in 1956 with the phaseout of the escort mission and retirement of the B-36.


    = Reserve fighter operations

    =
    Activated again in the reserve as the 466th Tactical Fighter Squadron in 1972 as a Republic F-105 Thunderchief squadron, being equipped with aircraft returned from inactivated Vietnam War squadrons. Since 1984 has trained to fly interdiction, close air support, and counter-air missions. Deployed periodically for contingency operations, or for training exercises with other units.


    Lineage



    Constituted as the 466th Fighter Squadron on 5 October 1944
    Activated on 12 October 1944
    Inactivated on 25 November 1945
    Redesignated 466th Fighter-Escort Squadron on 19 June 1952
    Activated on 1 July 1952
    Redesignated 466th Strategic Fighter Squadron on 20 January 1953
    Inactivated on 11 May 1956
    Redesignated 466th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 23 June 1972
    Activated in the reserve on 1 January 1973
    Redesignated 466th Fighter Squadron on 1 February 1992


    = Assignments

    =
    508th Fighter Group, 12 October 1944 – 25 November 1945
    508th Fighter-Escort Wing (later 508th Strategic Fighter Wing), 1 July 1952 – 11 May 1956 (not operational until September 1952)
    508th Tactical Fighter Group, 1 January 1973
    301st Tactical Fighter Wing, 25 March 1973
    508th Tactical Fighter Group, 17 October 1975
    419th Tactical Fighter Wing (later 419th Fighter Wing), 1 October 1982
    419th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – present


    = Stations

    =


    = Aircraft

    =
    Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1944–1945
    Republic F-84 Thunderjet, 1952–1956
    Republic F-105 Thunderchief, 1973–1984
    Lockheed T-33 T-Bird, 1973–1980
    General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon 1984–2017
    Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 2017 – present


    References


    Notes

    Citations


    = Bibliography

    =
    This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

    Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
    Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
    Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.


    External links


    419 Fighter Wing factsheet
    466th Fighter Squadron info at global security.org

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